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Basketball star Nowitzki to carry German flag at Olympics

Dirk Nowitzki, one of the stars of American professional basketball, will be Germany's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the German Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday.

Basketball star Nowitzki to carry German flag at Olympics
Photo:DPA

Nowitzki, voted the National Basketball Association (NBA) player of the year in 2007, will be competing in his first Olympics at the age of 30. He is the first basketball player to carry the German flag at an Olympics, succeeding showjumper Ludger Beerbaum (2004), kayak canoe racer Birgit Fischer (2000) and fencer Arnd Schmitt (1996).

“Competing at an Olympic Games is something that has motivated me since the age of 10 and 11,” Nowitzki told a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday. “On Friday (at the opening ceremony), I will experience something astonishing. I never thought I would be chosen to carry the flag but maybe it’s happened because a lot of athletes identify with me.”

He added: “I loved my sport from the moment I played my first game and I still enjoy training.”

Fischer, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist who retired after the Athens Games four years ago, was critical when it was first suggested Nowitzki, one of the biggest earners in the NBA, might carry the flag as, in her eyes, he did not represent one of Germany’s traditional Olympic sports.

Gymnast Fabian Hambuchen, the world high-bar champion, had been the German Olympic Committee’s first choice to be their flag-bearer but he declined the offer because his event takes place on Saturday.

Dallas Mavericks forward Nowitzki played a key role in ensuring Germany clinched the final qualifying place on offer in the 12-team line-up for these Games by scoring 32 points in a 96-82 victory over Puerto Rico in July. That win saw Germany into their first Olympic basketball tournament since 1992.

They were also aided by Los Angeles Clippers centre Chris Kaman who, courtesy of his great-grandparents, became a naturalised German citizen at the start of July. Despite then not speaking a world of German, Kaman played his part against Puerto Rico by scoring 10 points with 12 rebounds.

“I’ve only been here 12 days but Dirk has waited 12 years for this to happen,” Kaman said afterwards. “I can’t even imagine the emotions that he must be feeling at this moment.”

SPORT

Spain’s greatest-ever basketball player Pau Gasol retires

Double NBA winner and Europe's most successful basketballer Pau Gasol said on Tuesday he had made the "difficult decision" to retire, but at 41 was at ease with his choice.

Spain's greatest-ever basketball player Pau Gasol retires
Spanish player Pau Gasol Saez attends a press conference to announce his retirement, at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, on October 5, 2021. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Gasol, the older brother of recently-released Memphis Grizzlies centre Marc Gasol, won the competition in 2009 and 2010 during his time at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Two years ago, he suffered a foot injury which threatened to end his career earlier than planned.

“It is a difficult decision. As you can imagine, it is difficult, after so many years, but it is a considered decision, you have to change gear a little, and know how to enjoy it,” ex-centre Gasol told reporters at a press conference in Barcelona.

“I wanted to end up playing and enjoying myself, not on crutches and with operations,” he added.

He was a six-time NBA All-Star after being named the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2002 and won his two NBA crowns alongside Kobe Bryant.

Gasol emotionally paid tribute to former Lakers team-mate Bryant, who died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 12: Pau Gasol #16 and Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate a play in the second quarter while taking on the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2012 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Los Angeles Lakers stars Gasol and Bryant celebrate a play during the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. Photo: KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AFP

“One last word for my friend Kobe Bryant. I would have really liked for him to be here, but it’s not possible,” Gasol said with tears in his eyes.

“Life isn’t fair some times. He taught me how to be a better player, a better leader, I always considered him as a big brother,” he added.

‘The Golden Kids’

For Spain, Gasol, who also had spells with the Grizzlies, the Chicago Bulls, the San Antonio Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks, claimed two Olympic silver medals and a bronze as well as three EuroBasket crowns.

He was the leader of his country’s generation nicknamed ‘The Golden Kids’ as he led a side including his sibling as well as former Grizzlies shooting guard Juan Carlos Navarro and ex-Portland TrailBlazers small forward Rudy Fernandez to the 2006 FIBA World Cup.

(L-R) Pau Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro react as Spain wins the gold medal of the Eurobasket 2011 in Kaunas on September 18, 2011. Spain defeated France 98-85. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo by JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP)
(L-R) Pau Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Marc Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro react as Spain wins the gold medal of the Eurobasket 2011 in Kaunas on September 18, 2011. Spain defeated France 98-85. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo by JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP)

The Catalan, standing at 2.16m, is among the continent’s greatest players in the NBA along with German Dirk Nowitzki, Croatian Drazen Petrovic, the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo and Frenchman Tony Parker, who he passed as EuroBasket’s leading scorer in 2017.

His last international appearance came at this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo during the quarter-final defeat to the USA.

He finished his club career with a Liga ACB title in Spain in June while with hometown club Barcelona but failed to clinch the EuroLeague.

“I am thankful to all. Having won one more league with Barca,” he said.

Gasol said he did not want to become a coach but indicated that his future still lay within the game he has graced for over 20 years. “Consultant or director… We’ll see. I’ve already started to speak with many NBA teams,” he said.

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